Summary of Walt Johnson/Dave O’Rourke: A Climate Conversation | Tom Nelson Pod #155

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

In this YouTube video titled "Walt Johnson/Dave O'Rourke: A Climate Conversation | Tom Nelson Pod #155", Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss the importance of open conversations, clear information, and objective truth when it comes to addressing climate change. They emphasize the need for cost-benefit analysis and scientific dialogue to make rational decisions. Walt Johnson shares his motivation for making the film "A Climate Conversation" and highlights the historical fluctuations of temperature and carbon dioxide levels. They also question the mainstream narrative on climate change and aim to foster a more balanced and optimistic dialogue. They discuss their plans to make the film available to a wider audience, the sale of DVDs, and the potential economic and lifestyle impacts of climate action. They also touch on issues such as misleading temperature graphs, hurricane frequency and intensity, forest fires, and sources of information about the climate debate. The conversation ends by discussing the unique aspects of the United States and its role in innovation and development in the oil and coal industries.

• 00:00:00 In this section, Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss the need for open conversations about the cost and funding of addressing climate change. They emphasize the importance of adult conversations based on clear information and objective truth, rather than shouting and name-calling. They also highlight the need for a cost-benefit analysis of proposed solutions and the importance of engaging in dialogue with a scientific underpinning. Walt Johnson, the co-writer and funder of the film "A Climate Conversation," shares his motivation for making the film, stating that his diverse background in geophysics and engineering led him to realize the potential economic and cultural implications of certain solutions. He also presents a graph illustrating the historical fluctuations of temperature and carbon dioxide levels, noting that the recent rise in temperature is relatively minor compared to historical highs.
• 00:05:00 In this section, Walt Johnson discusses his perspective on greenhouse gases and climate change. He believes that while greenhouse gases may have contributed to some degree of warming, it is not a significant enough factor to be pursued as a pressing issue. He mentions studying the temperatures of different civilizations throughout history and how they were able to thrive in different climates, indicating that a slight increase in temperature may not necessarily be detrimental. He also highlights the challenges and costs of transitioning to net-zero emissions, emphasizing the need for a cost-benefit analysis and a clear plan for funding such endeavors.
• 00:10:00 In this section, Walt Johnson reflects on the process of creating his climate change documentary and the different perspectives that were included. He chose talk show host Kim Monson because he wanted someone who could hold their own with the scientists involved, and Colton, who ended up being a great addition to the team. Johnson initially had doubts about the money he invested in the project but was ultimately pleased with how everything came together. He mentions that each person involved had their own agenda to push, such as Ronald Stein emphasizing the oil industry and Ken Gregory discussing carbon capture and sequestration. Johnson also raises questions about the moral implications, resource availability, and political considerations surrounding climate change, noting that there is a dissonance between the perceived crisis and the lived reality. He believes that rational decisions need to be made based on calm discussions in order to address these issues effectively.
• 00:15:00 In this section, Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss the idea of the Earth becoming greener as carbon dioxide levels rise. They question why this is seen as a bad thing and argue that the Earth has a way of solving its own problems. They believe it is important for people to understand different points of view and information that challenges the mainstream narrative on climate change. The film they discuss aims to shed light on previously taboo or secret topics and encourage a more balanced and optimistic dialogue about the Earth's current state and potential solutions. Both Johnson and O'Rourke mention positive feedback they received after screenings of the film, indicating that it has the potential to reach a wider audience and spark meaningful conversations.
• 00:20:00 In this section, the speakers discuss their plans to make the film "A Climate Conversation" available to a wide audience after its initial screening on Newsmax TV. They mention that they hope to engage in conversations across different media platforms and encourage watch parties to start the conversation process. They express their belief that if they can capture the imagination of the largest group that is often bewildered about climate change, they can foster a cost-benefit understanding and rational decision-making for effective policies. The speakers also mention that the film is visually stimulating, informative, and enjoyable to watch, which may contribute to its potential virality. They assure that the film will be easy to find and watch online, and emphasize the importance of approaching it with an open mind to new information.
• 00:25:00 In this section, Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss the sale of DVDs for the movie and how the profits will go to the director, Colton Moyer. They mention that Walt had to use his retirement fund to fund the movie twice, but he still feels good about it. They highlight the importance of the climate issue and the potential consequences of not addressing it. They also mention that the costs of climate action are real, but the benefits are somewhat imaginary, as reducing the US's carbon footprint would only lower the Earth's temperature by 0.09 degrees Fahrenheit. They argue that implementing Net Zero policies would have significant economic and lifestyle impacts.
• 00:30:00 In this section, Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss the timeline and development of their climate change movie. They mention that it took them around two years to finalize the script and bring the idea to fruition. They also touch on the issue of misleading temperature graphs in climate change arguments and the fact that past temperatures have been higher than current ones. They mention that while many private domain geologists believe CO2's impact on climate change is negligible, those employed in the public domain tend to have a different perspective. Additionally, they mention their skepticism towards claims about the increasing severity of storms.
• 00:35:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the measurement of hurricanes and the cost of construction in relation to them. They mention that more people now live along the coast, leading to higher costs of damage. The speaker also argues that there hasn't been a significant increase in hurricane frequency or intensity. They then transition to discussing forest fires and the changes in forest management practices. The speaker claims that fighting fires at night, when temperatures are cooler, has been discontinued, resulting in more severe fires. They also mention the shift in hiring practices, favoring landscape architects over forest management graduates. The speaker suggests that some of the forest fires in the 1930s may have been deliberately started for financial gain. They believe that arson still occurs today but is rarely discussed. The conversation then touches on the Smokey Bear campaign in the 40s and 50s, which discouraged starting forest fires.
• 00:40:00 In this section, Walt Johnson and Dave O'Rourke discuss their sources of information about the climate debate. Walt mentions that he gathers information from sources like blogs, podcasts, and books, with Anthony Watts' blog being particularly informative and accurate. He emphasizes the importance of verifying information in today's culture. Dave adds that he sees their film as an introduction to the topic for the curious and open-minded and highlights the need for more climate conversations. He mentions the political implications and the potential for more films to help make scientific information more popular and clear. They further discuss the challenges and inconsistencies in the climate narrative, including the case of Dr. Mann and the disputed hockey stick graph. They also touch upon the issues of expensive climate policies and the potential impacts on industries like oil and aviation.
• 00:45:00 In this section, the conversation shifts to the unique aspects of the United States and how it has fostered innovation and development in the oil industry. The guests talk about how individuals in the country can own minerals, which has provided incentives for exploration and risk-taking. They also mention that the coal industry has a long history in the US, with natural coal seams sometimes catching fire and causing incidents like the one near Boulder. The conversation ends with an invitation to watch a climate conversation on Newsmax and be part of the movement for sustainable solutions.